Foldable furniture hinge member

ABSTRACT

A hinge member for foldable furniture includes a plurality of links rotatably interconnected. Each link has a bearing surface projecting from a link body portion that is adapted to be rotated to bear against an adjacent link in the operative position. The link members are adapted to be connected to the frame components of the furniture and thereby permit the furniture to be folded to a compact storage position with each frame component parallel to another.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,924,

Brennan, Jr. 1 Dec. 9, 1975 [54] FOLDABLE FURNITURE HINGE MEMBER 2,558,583 6/1951 Robins 16/191 X 3,123,395 3/1964 Glass [76] Invenmr' f P' Brenna, @7866 3,450,432 6/1969 Minsker 297/17 516m Hlghway saugus, Callf- 3,756,166 9/1973 Piretti 108/115 91350 3,779,176 12/1973 Piretti 248/167 22 Fl (1: 8 1973 1 l e June Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel APPI- NO-I 368,201 Attorney, Agent, or FirmJackson & Jones 52 us. c1. 297/16; 297/45; 108/115; [57] ABSTRACT 248/167 A hinge member for foldable furniture includes a plu- [51] Int. Cl. A47C4/18 rality of links r a ly interconnected. Each link h [58] Field of Search 297/16, 17, 59, 46, 55; a ng Surface projecting from a link body portion 5/57 B; 248/167, 434, 435; 108/115; 16/135, that is adapted to be rotated to bear against an adja- 162, 163, 191, 173, 167 cent link in the operative position. The link members are adapted to be connected to the frame components [56] Reference Cit d of the furniture and thereby permit the furniture to be UNITED STATES PATENTS folded to a compact storage position with each frame 965,194 7/1910 Karbiner 248/167 cqmponent parallel to another 2,026,427 12/1935 Miller 248/167 X 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Z2 Z0 19 t9 4 If" I I! a 2 heet 2 of 2 T 3392 4390 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 FOLDABLE FURNITURE HINGE MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention is directed to foldable furniture and the like and more particularly, to a furniture hinge member utilizing a number of links.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

In the field of furniture and more particularly in collapsible or foldable furniture, various forms of hinges have been utilized to permit the furniture to assume a transportable, compact shape.

Various linkages such as the camming pin and loss motion link on the foldable card table have been used extensively in the prior art. Sometimes, the joints of the furniture are pivotably connected together and the furniture itself assumes a stable position in an open operative mode and an unstable position in the folded state. Most of -the furniture in the prior art has been characterized by numerous joints or hinge members requiring generally a number of different parts to effectuate a foldable hinge. The production of a relatively simple and inexpensive hinge member that would complement the ornamental requirements of the furniture industry has remained illusive from the attempts of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

A furniture hinge member is provided for use on foldable furniture. A plurality of identical links having bearing surfaces are designed to position the adjacent links at approximately 90 degrees to each other. Prefer ably the hinge will comprise at least three links with each link having means for attachment to a foldable section of the particular furniture.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The present invention will be more readily understood with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the link hinge of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the link hinge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the link hinge in a closed operative position;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment of a link of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of a link of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a chair of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a table of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of another chair of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the chair of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the chair of FIG. 8 in a folded condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:

Referring to FIG. 1, the hinge member 2 of the present invention is disclosed comprising three link members 4, 6, and 8. The first and third link members 4 and 8 are connected to the second or intermediate link member 6 to permit relative rotation. Each link member includes a body portion 10 provided with means for permitting relative rotation such as the bores 12 and the pins 24 located on the respective ear portions 16 of each link member. Projecting from the central portion of the link body portion 10 is a cam or hearing member 18 having respective bearing surfaces 20 and 22 adapted to bear against the adjacent bearing surfaces 20 and 22 of adjacent links.

The heighth of the bearing member 18 and its angular slope relative to the body portion 10 determines the number of link members or segments that would be used in a particular hinge member 2. As the heighth decreases, less segments would be employed and conversely, the greater the heighth of the bearing member 18 the more links that would be required.

Preferably the individual links are identical for ease in both manufacturing and assembly. In addition, the links are preferably connected directly to each other through their respective bores 12 with only the pins 24. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, variations are possible both in connecting the links and in the actual configuration of the links. The links can be made from either metal or plastic or any other material having the characteristic of being durable upon repeated applications of stress to the bearing surfaces 20 and 22. I

FIG. 2 is an end view of the hinge member 2 which discloses the relative relationship of the bearing members 18 of links 4 and 6. Interconnecting the identical links are a pin 24 and snap ring washer 26. Other connecting members can be used as long as the relative alignment of the bearing members is maintained. The respective bearing members 18 of links 4 and 6 are inclined relative to the plane of their link body portions 10. The body portions 10 include the flat portion of the hinge member 2 that extends between the respective ears 16 and has a flat linear surface as shown in FIG. 2 which can define a plane. The central link 6 while identical to the other links 4 and 8 is positioned 180 degrees out of phase, that is in a mirror image relationship, to insure the interference alignment of the relative bearing members 18.

Referring to FIG. 3, a four member hinge 28 is disclosed in its operative position with the respective links arranged at degree intervals relative to the adjacent links. Each link of the hinge member 28 is connected to a U-shaped frame member through a connecting semicircular portion 30. Pins 24 extend through the bores 12 and permit the relative rotation of the individual links. The U-shaped frame members constitute respectively the legs 42 and 44, the seat frame 46 and the back frame 48 of a piece of furniture. In this embodiment, four links are utilized and the link associated with the back frame 48 can be connected with a fastener (not shown) through the bore 12 with the link associated with the leg member 44 to form a permanent or semi-permanent connection. Various forms of fasteners can be utilized to effectuate the connection between the end links of the hinge member 28. i

Referring to FIG. 4, a two-part link member 32 is dis closed wherein each section 34 and 36 of the link member 32 is identical. The respective bearing members 52 and 54 are inclined or bent out of the plane of the body of the link to form an inclined bearing member 38. A pin 40 extends through the bores 12 to hold each part of the link member 32 together and to interconnect the adjacent links. A snap-lock washer 50 is provided to hold the pin 40 in place. 7

Referring to FIG. 5, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed utilizing a solid link member 56 having ear portions 58 with bores 60. Pin 40 interconnects adjacent links with the snap-lock washer 50. The .inclined cam member 62 is basically triangular but can be varied to optimize the ultimate desired position of the respective links in the hinge.

FIG. 8 discloses one embodiment of a chair 68 using the hinge member 2 of the present invention. The chair 68 comprises essentially four tubular U-shaped frame members consisting of the leg members 42 and 44, seat frame 46 and back frame 48. The tubular U-shaped members are connected to a pair of hinge members 2 through the connecting semi-circular portion on each of the links. Appropriate webbing 64 such as, for example, cane webs can be utilized on the back portion 48 and the seat 46. In addition, arm rests 66 can be cantilevered in a rotatable fashion on each side of the tubular back portion 48 While the embodiments disclosed in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a pair of hinge members 2, it is quite possible to utilize a large single hinge member. The chair 68 is disclosed with its tubular U-shaped frame members in a stored or folded position in FIG. 9. As can be appreciated from this view, the hinge member 2 positions the sectional units of the furniture in relatively parallel positions. As a result of the compact storage arrangement possible with the hinge member 2 being solely at one end, the folded furniture chair 68 is unusually stable for storage or transportation. V

In FIG. 6, a perspective view of a hammock chair 70 is disclosed. The hammock fabric or covering 72 would extend over the'extremities of each of the identical J- shaped tubular front leg members 74 and larger J- shaped tubular rear leg members 76. The hinge member 2 would lie in a horizontal plane relative to the vertical plane of the hinge member 2 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 .10. The hammock covering 72 can,

80 and foldable table legs 82. The hinge unit 2 joins the central portion of thetable legs 82. The table top 80 can be merely placed upon the table legs 82 or it can be joined by the hinge 84 with one of the table legs 82 to rotate in a transverse plane to that of the hinge unit 2 for storage. It should be realized that other tubular support members can be utilized in chairs and tables such as, for example, a table utilizing the configuration similar to that of the hammock chair 70 of FIG. 6. Since craftsmen skilled in the art can take advantage of the high utilitarian and ornamental features of the present hinge member 2 and the illustrated embodiments disclosed herein, the scope of the present invention should be determined solely from the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable multi-sectional chair comprising:

four substantially U-shaped sectional members, two

members having a pair of leg portions interconnected by a central body, at least one other member forming a seat frame and the final member forming a back rest frame;

a hinge member having at least four substantially identical links rotatably connected together, each link having a body and an inclined bearing surface that is inclined traversely to a plane containing the longitudinal length of the body, the respective bearing surfaces capable of positioning the first and third intermediate link approximately parallel along the longitudinal axis of the link bodies and the second intermediate link and fourth link approximately transverse along the longitudinal axis to the first and third links in the operative position of the foldable chair;

means for connecting each link to a respective U- shaped member including connecting the central body of the leg members to their respective links; and

means for connecting the bodies of the respective links along their longitudinal lengths so that the inclined bearing surface of each link is towards the plane containing the body of an adjacent link, the

links being relatively rotatable to permit adjacent bearing surfaces that are inclined to extend into the respective rotational paths of adjacent links to permit adjacent bearing surfaces to be positioned against each other when the chair sectional members are forming an operative unit, each link connected to a chair sectional member and capable of positioning the chair sectional members in relatively parallel positions when folded into a compact position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting includes a semi-circular portion of the link body.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped sectional members are tubular.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the links are made of plastic.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein each link has a pair of connecting portions and a bearing surface lying beyond the plane of the connecting portions.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein each link is a pair of identical members having a bearing surface inclined with respect to the plane of the remaining body of the link.

7. A foldable multi-sectional furniture unit as in claim 1 wherein a second hinge member of identical links connected together as in the first hinge member is provided, each hinge member interconnecting the U- shaped members intermediate and-spaced from the connection of the legs of the chair with the central body. 

1. A foldable multi-sectional chair comprising: four substantially U-shaped sectional members, two members having a pair of leg portions interconnected by a central body, at least one other member forming a seat frame and the final member forming a back rest frame; a hinge member having at least four substantially identical links rotatably connected together, each link having a body and an inclined bearing surface that is inclined traversely to a plane containing the longitudinal length of the body, the respective bearing surfaces capable of positioning the first and third intermediate link approximately parallel along the longitudinal axis of the link bodies and the second intermediate link and fourth link approximately transverse along the longitudinal axis to the first and third links in the operative position of the foldable chair; means for connecting each link to a respective U-shaped member including connecting the central body of the leg members to their respective links; and means for connecting the bodies of the respective links along their longitudinal lengths so that the inclined bearing surface of each link is towards the plane containing the body of an adjacent link, the links being relatively rotatablE to permit adjacent bearing surfaces that are inclined to extend into the respective rotational paths of adjacent links to permit adjacent bearing surfaces to be positioned against each other when the chair sectional members are forming an operative unit, each link connected to a chair sectional member and capable of positioning the chair sectional members in relatively parallel positions when folded into a compact position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting includes a semi-circular portion of the link body.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped sectional members are tubular.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the links are made of plastic.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein each link has a pair of connecting portions and a bearing surface lying beyond the plane of the connecting portions.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein each link is a pair of identical members having a bearing surface inclined with respect to the plane of the remaining body of the link.
 7. A foldable multi-sectional furniture unit as in claim 1 wherein a second hinge member of identical links connected together as in the first hinge member is provided, each hinge member interconnecting the U-shaped members intermediate and spaced from the connection of the legs of the chair with the central body. 